1990 pontiac tempest-flooding-rough idle

[tvguy1]

we picked up a 1990 pontiac tempest for practically nothing and the body is in excellent condition but the engine has some problems.

it's very difficult to start, seems to flood and when you do get it running it run's rough, almost like it's missing. you can smell the unburnt fuel in the exhaust. the check engine light is NOT on.

we changed the throtle back position sensor and also the coil pack but it did not help.

also changed the spark plugs and wires, no change.

it's a 3.1l V6

any other suggestions as to what the problem could be?

were thinking of changing the O2 sensors but hoped someone on here might be able to suggest something first.

thanks guy's!

[benkerby]

Originally Posted by tvguy1

we picked up a 1990 pontiac tempest for practically nothing and the body is in excellent condition but the engine has some problems.

it's very difficult to start, seems to flood and when you do get it running it run's rough, almost like it's missing. you can smell the unburnt fuel in the exhaust. the check engine light is NOT on.

we changed the throtle back position sensor and also the coil pack but it did not help.

also changed the spark plugs and wires, no change.

it's a 3.1l V6

any other suggestions as to what the problem could be?

were thinking of changing the O2 sensors but hoped someone on here might be able to suggest something first.

thanks guy's!

I don't know if it is already too late, but my 1990 Pontiac Tempest (I put Corsica in the profile because Tempest wasn't one of the choices and they're essentially the same) was having very similar problems. It would stall sometimes after idling for a while and would not start again for a long time. Every time we took it to a mechanic, however, it seemed to run fine. It seemed to be flooding but the 3.1L V6 is fuel injected. In our case it turned out to be the computer that had to be replaced. It runs great now.

Hope this helps,
Ben

[Jim Adams]

If it is dumping fuel and running rough ,,blowing some black smoke I would say it is the map sensor on the firewall passenger side little black box with a vacuum line going to it and a 3 wire plug ,,it may also be in or on the side of the air breather . Also check and see if it has vacuum at the line going to it,,Did you check for trouble codes??